 | ParentsOf Kids and CarpetPosted Monday, May 12th, 2008 and visited 115 times, 1 so far today by MInTheGap |
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So, this weekend Virtuous Blonde and I decided to do something drastic. For quite a while we have kept things at the house pretty much as is because we figured that the Lord wanted us out of this area, and we’d been house hunting. However, time continues to march on, and as our youngest continues to grow, it was getting to the point where we needed to take action. You see, the table we got as a wedding present doesn’t really seat five well, but there’s carpet in our dining room and that doesn’t work well with children eating– as I know some of you are aware.
My wife really likes hard wood. I believe I prefer carpet, especially when children are learning to walk. However, hard wood is easier to clean, and it does have a bright appeal. When we re-carpeted one of the rooms we noticed that there was hard wood underneath, and for some time we wondered if the same was true throughout the house. So, Saturday, we decided to find out.
Sure enough, we tore up a corner and there was beautiful hard wood. Tearing up more revealed not as good of a condition and a weird wooden grate that must have been part of the original heating system of the house– at least, that’s the only sense we can make out of it. We got the carpet and pad out, cut it (since it goes into the living room and we weren’t ready to take it all out yet), and put it outside.
The the kids woke up.
Now, we’ve worked hard to get them ready for the idea of a new house, and they started to really like the idea of a new floor– until Sunday night when my oldest told me that he didn’t want me to take up the Living Room floor because he liked the carpet and it would make him cry. Tonight, he started balling when I told him I was going to take the trash out because he didn’t want the old carpet to go. He said he would miss it.
This is totally foreign to my wife, who embraces and desires change. I can sympathize because I’m at best ambivalent, and I need to think of how it will be better because I also trend toward memories and nostalgia.
But as I got to thinking, it’s really a reflection of how people are. People generally don’t react well to change. They like to know where things are, what things are, and what they can count on. Whether it’s computer programs or coworkers, there are times when things change and we can have a hard time adapting, a hard time knowing what is going on, and we can begin to doubt what’s going on around us.
It’s at this time that we need to rely on God, we need to look to His immutability (that He doesn’t change) and rest in His love and care.
So, two things to take away from this:
- Don’t make drastic changes to the house without letting the kids know what you’re doing.
- To stop them from crying and “missing” the carpet, offer to let them help pick out the new throw rug.
Just don’t tell my wife that he’s hoping for a red rug with Spiderman on it.
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May 12th, 2008 at 10:37 pm Subscribed to Comments
Ah, the eternal carpet vs. hardwood floor debate. You could’ve donated your old carpet to us as I hate our hardwood floors. I have a serious affinity for carpet and our entire upstairs is hardwood or linoleum. Not very comfy place to nap alongside the cats or dogs.
AG’s last blog post..God freakin’ rocks!
May 16th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
We remodeled our home three years ago and went with all solid surfaces. We used to have carpeting, but it was very old and worn. Because my oldest daughter and I suffer from allergies the wood floors and tile seemed like the way to go.
I’ll admit it’s taken some getting used to. It’s beautiful, but it’s also hard. The wood isn’t exactly worry free - we have to watch for water spills. The scratches, well, I can’t worry about everything. We don’t have a “museum house” LOL!
After living with it for almost two years, we’ve finally broken down and gotten some area rugs. Believe it or not, one of them is under the dining room table - yes, even with kids. They are the synthetic fiber type (polypropylene???) and as such they are easy to care for. We haven’t had a problem even with spills.
I really enjoy the way the floors look. With carpet, I always had to wonder what allergens were “lurking” in the pile. Now I can see it, vacuum it, no troubles.
Christine @ Serenity How?’s last blog post..99?and That’s a Magic Number
May 16th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
That is one of the things that “scares” me about hard wood floors. Just today I was wondering how “that scratch” got there. It seems to me that they may be more to maintain.
However, if we do ever get around to selling I know that it will sell better with hard woods.
May 16th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
I use a Minwax Wood Finish Stain Marker. It was recommended by the man who installed the floor. We don’t have solid hardwood (too expensive) but have engineered hardwood, which means we can only sand it once. With solid hardwood, you can cover the scratches, but can always sand it and refinish it if you really need to.
You’re right about the resale value being better with a hardwood floor. People really tend to like it more and it’s more versatile.
Christine @ Serenity How?’s last blog post..99?and That’s a Magic Number
May 19th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
I know exactly what you mean when it comes to change. I graduated from Liberty University recently, and I have to admit it was exciting and scary all at once. I have spent the past four years with one close friend. She and I have been on the same dorm for four years in a row, and we were able to be roommates and RA partners this past year. Now as we both graduated, she decided to move on and go teach in DC. Me, on the other hand, I’m headed back to LU to get my masters. I dreaded it as the time came to graduate. I could not imagine next year being any better. I had an amazing hall, with a great group of girls, the roommate I’d always wanted who was also my best friend, and things had finally gone the way I wanted. Now things have to change. I have a new roommate, new group of girls, and new challenges. I tend to be the more nostalgic type as well, and part of me thinks that next year won’t be or couldn’t be as good as this past year was. The only thing that got me through this past series of changes was knowing the fact that God never changes, and that His hand is seen in everything. Even if I don’t believe that next year can be better, it can be. I know that He is there every step of the way, all I have to do is trust Him.
May 22nd, 2008 at 3:17 pm
My vote is definitely for hardwood. I love ours. We had the same deal when we bought our house, everything was carpeted but after flipping a corner up, I saw this gorgeous wood floor beneath! Since the carpet was older and in need of replacing, and we didn’t have the funds, we just chucked it. We’ve got area rugs in every room but the kitchen, which is still linoleum…someday we want to install ceramic tile in there.
As far as kids and change…I completely redid our daughters’ room while my oldest was out of state with her grandparents…painted it a different color, pulled out the carpeting, etc. She was shocked but tried to put on a good face. I realized my idea of a fun surprise was a bit overwhelming for her!
I’m like your wife, I embrace change! When we were first married I rearranged our living room every other week. It drove dh crazy!
Mary’s last blog post..God and Sports
May 23rd, 2008 at 3:40 pm
@Mary: Sounds like the two of you would fit right in together. For me, I’m ambivalent– as long as it’s functional.
The floor’s now done– I’ll have to post a picture of it done (forgot to take some before we started moving everything back!). Now’s just a question of how do we use the space efficiently.